"I would say that all the boys have worked hard in all facets, the result is just the reward," said Sarfraz.

"Whoever has got an opportunity has done well. We wanted to carry forward the momentum to the New Zealand series, the way we bowled and took our catches was superb tonight."

'We had our chances'

Finch admitted it was disappointing to come up so short when chasing 151 to win.

"We had our chances in all three games," said Finch. "You back yourself while chasing under 150, you back your batsmen to get the side over the line but it didn't happen.

"Our bowling was very impressive all series, keeping them to below 150 was great. We're looking forward to a tough series against South Africa (at home)."

Earlier, Azam scored his second fifty of the series after the hosts had won the toss and batted.

Azam and Sahibzada Farhan gave Pakistan an excellent start -- their opening stand of 99 their highest against Australia in T20 internationals -- in 12.5 overs, but Pakistan could not capitalise on that start.

Farhan, dismissed for a first-ball duck in his only previous match against Australia in Harare in July, hit a 38-ball 39.

But after the openers, only Mohammad Hafeez managed to score freely during his 20-ball 32 not out.

Shoaib Malik scored 18 and became the second-highest run-scorer in T20 international history, passing New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

Another New Zealander Martin Guptill is at the top of the charts with 2,271 runs in 75 matches -- 118 more than Malik.

Pakistan next play New Zealand in three Twenty20 internationals, three ODIs and three Tests, starting with the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.